Tacoma? Safe (yet)? Urban (yet)? Your opinions... (Seattle, Spokane: apartment, condos)

[malachai23]

Hi all. It's been nearly 14 years since I've lived in the Seattle area. I'm still in "sticker shock" mode. I'm wondering, what is Tacoma like these days? It used to be pretty "rough". But on Google Maps it doesn't look so bad anymore, and I see some new apartment/condo construction near the historic downtown area. For the Seattle/Tacoma area residents, what do you think of Tacoma? Does is have a "young single professionals" type scene (as in safe places for singles to hang out and relax in the evenings) or is it still mostly working-class families who shut the town down at 5:00 PM? I remember the traffic being horrendous 14 years ago - so I'm wondering how long it would take to commute between Seattle city center and Tacoma nowadays? I realize Tacoma is NOT Seattle. I'm just wondering if it has a different ambiance now than it did 14 years ago. Thanks all!

[mthomson]

VERY different. You'd be blown away by the changes they've made. The dowtown area and the 6th Ave district are great young singles areas. Tons of great places to eat and hang out, and relatively safe now (using common sense still). The downtown condos are really gorgeous, but from a value standpoint you need to be pretty discriminating. Some have sold well, others haven't sold at all. There are some truly beautiful units with great views at good prices still.
Traffic isn't all that bad. Best bet is the new train that runs from the T-dome to Seattle or a bus from there. You can get info on the bus/train from Tacoma to Seattle at this site. Driving yourself, no carpool, you're 60-70 min at peak times.

[pirate_lafitte]

Tacoma isn't Disneyland, there is some crime. As for are Tacoma goes, it isn't as dangerous as some people would believe. There are much worse place. For the PNW, it is considered bad. For the rest of the USA, it isn't that bad. It was bad during the 1980's. It has gotten much better since then.

[malachai23]

Thanks all - and thanks MThomson - lots of great info there! I had NO CLUE there was a commuter train into Seattle now. That is so cool! I think downtown Tacoma looks really nice now. I'm glad to hear it's not just a facade. I always thought it was such a nice location, there was just never anything (good) going on there! Wow. It's amazing what can happen in 14 years. I'm going to keep Tacoma in mind if I do end up back in the Seattle area. Don't worry Pirate Lafitte - I'm currently living in the "19th most dangerous city in the US". heheh

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by malachai23

Thanks all - and thanks MThomson - lots of great info there! I had NO CLUE there was a commuter train into Seattle now. That is so cool! I think downtown Tacoma looks really nice now. I'm glad to hear it's not just a facade. I always thought it was such a nice location, there was just never anything (good) going on there! Wow. It's amazing what can happen in 14 years. I'm going to keep Tacoma in mind if I do end up back in the Seattle area. Don't worry Pirate Lafitte - I'm currently living in the "19th most dangerous city in the US". heheh

Judging by the location listed above, you live in Dayton,OH. I checked the statistics. Dayton did have a higher murder rate than Tacoma. On that same note, there are worse places. I live near a very dangerous city, Atlanta,GA.

[tindo80]

I was not aware Tacoma is not 'safe'. I have been there dozens of times, and other than property crimes, I have yet to see any serious violent crime at a comparable rate to many other cities. People are too tensed and frightened out of fear of wherever poor people live. Tacoma does have crime, but unless you are up to no good, you have far better odds just going about your business in Tacoma than you would plenty of other comparable metro's in the US. I see the same thing about peoples concerns with Spokane.

Then again, this all may work in Tacoma's favor. Once it gets 'too' trendy and its perception is too nice and tidy, it is bound to become similar to Seattle, where traffic and housing prices explode.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by tindo80

I was not aware Tacoma is not 'safe'. I have been there dozens of times, and other than property crimes, I have yet to see any serious violent crime at a comparable rate to many other cities. People are too tensed and frightened out of fear of wherever poor people live. Tacoma does have crime, but unless you are up to no good, you have far better odds just going about your business in Tacoma than you would plenty of other comparable metro's in the US. I see the same thing about peoples concerns with Spokane.

Then again, this all may work in Tacoma's favor. Once it gets 'too' trendy and its perception is too nice and tidy, it is bound to become similar to Seattle, where traffic and housing prices explode.

Tacoma has always been considered the "red-headed stepchild" of the Northwest. The crack epidemic and Tacoma going through a violent phase during the 1980's didn't help matters. I would say it is safer than many people would give it credit for. I think that many people hate on Tacoma because it isn't Seattle.

[tindo80]

I totally agree with that. To be honest, in my experience, even Seattle people hate other seattle places. I have a lot of friends who live in Bothell, Downtown, Capitol hill, Renton, and Lynnwood, and I am always hearing that pretty much every city (with the exception of the one they live in) west of Bellevue, north of shoreline and south of Renton is 'ghetto'.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by tindo80

I totally agree with that. To be honest, in my experience, even Seattle people hate other seattle places. I have a lot of friends who live in Bothell, Downtown, Capitol hill, Renton, and Lynnwood, and I am always hearing that pretty much every city (with the exception of the one they live in) west of Bellevue and south of Renton is 'ghetto'.

If you want to see ghetto, travel to some of Atlanta's suburbs. Violent crime and problems maintaining public school accreditation. I don't think any of Seattle's southern suburbs or Tacoma has a problem with that as far as I know. I could be wrong.

[tindo80]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

If you want to see ghetto, travel to some of Atlanta's suburbs. Violent crime and problems maintaining public school accreditation. I don't think any of Seattle's southern suburbs or Tacoma has a problem with that as far as I know. I could be wrong.

My hometown, San Antonio, in the 80s and 90s was really REALLY bad. Its still pretty bad. Chicago, DC in the 80s, certain parts of San Diego, and Miami have really bad spots as well.

In my experience and education, crime can and does happen to anyone anywhere they are not being aware and cautious. The fact that so many people get this feeling of what spots arent safe automatically makes them feel safe in other spots where realistically they are no.

A guy walking down MLK street in Seattle, not looking for trouble but making it obvious they are aware of their surrounding has little in reality to fear that they would not in any other part of town.

A tourist walking in downtown Bellevue without being aware of their self is a walking target for some kind of crime. Even on a crowded afternoon.